Associated Press Release - "Dr
Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife
and Shadow Public Health Minister and himself a
consultant psychiatrist in addictions and
previous Deputy Justice Minister in charge of
Drugs in the Scottish Government, last Thursday
tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament
congratulating all those in Drug and alcohol
services in Fife.
Dr Simpson said, "These recent changes to
services and particularly the new triage drop in
clinics have achieved a massive change for all
those in Fife who have substance misuse
problems.
"The waiting times, which previously meant that
Fife was amongst the poorest areas in Scotland
in the timely delivery of these services, have
been transformed so that Fife is now one of the
best.
"Given that the services have yet to receive the
new funding for substance misuse services this
must have taken an enormous effort by all those
working in both the statutory and voluntary
services. I have invited my fellow MSPs in
the parliament to join me in an expression of
thanks to all those responsible."
The full motion read:
S3M-02276 Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland
and Fife) (Scottish Labour): Congratulating Fife
Drug and Alcohol Services— That the
Parliament congratulates all those working in
statutory and voluntary sector drug and alcohol
services in Fife on the massive improvements
achieved in reducing waiting times for access to
services; further congratulates them for
developing an increased range of services,
particularly the introduction of triage
assessment in April 2008 via easy access/drop-in
clinics, which are likely to help more substance
misusers to achieve progress in tackling their
problems more quickly, and looks forward to the
application of the new funding for alcohol
problem identification, brief intervention,
treatment and support, helping to consolidate
and develop these services in a fully integrated
way.
Supported by: Mr Frank
McAveety, Mary Mulligan, Bill Kidd, Ken
Macintosh, Stuart McMillan, Jackie Baillie, Jim
Tolson, David Stewart, Robin Harper, Marilyn
Livingstone, James Kelly, Elaine Smith, Dr Bill
Wilson
source:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk
